The Parable of Leaven (or Yeast)
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The Parable of Leaven or Yeast describes the growth of the Kingdom of Heaven and is one of the many parables that was spoken of by Jesus Christ. This parable, which is found in Matthew 13:33 (yeast is used) and Luke 13:20-21 (leaven is used), can have interpretations that differ but the general theme of the parable is focused on the growth of the Kingdom of Heaven and complements the parable in the previous verse concerning the mustard seed.
He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough.” Matthew 13:33 NIV.
Just as the leaven or yeast is used to make the flour grow and produce bread, this process symbolizes the growth of the Kingdom of Heaven. The flour symbolizes the Kingdom and the leaven or yeast symbolizes the Spirit of God that causes the Kingdom to grow until it is fully grown. The parable complements the previous parable of the mustard seed, which describes how this seed transforms from the smallest seed to a tree with large branches, symbolizing the growth of the Church and the Kingdom of God. The parable also teaches that the the Church or the Kingdom cannot grow without the Spirit of God and that when the Church strays away from the teachings or commandments of God, the growth of the Kingdom suffers. The Kingdom and the Church grows when the faithful believers fully submit to the teachings and commandments of God and ignore the teachings or reasonings of man. As so many Churches today have been fooled by the false teachings of man, these false teachings have led to false doctrines that have led the Church astray. The Church and the Kingdom of God is only at full strength and can only reach its full potential when there is a commitment to the true teachings and commandments of God.
He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough.” Matthew 13:33 NIV.
Just as the leaven or yeast is used to make the flour grow and produce bread, this process symbolizes the growth of the Kingdom of Heaven. The flour symbolizes the Kingdom and the leaven or yeast symbolizes the Spirit of God that causes the Kingdom to grow until it is fully grown. The parable complements the previous parable of the mustard seed, which describes how this seed transforms from the smallest seed to a tree with large branches, symbolizing the growth of the Church and the Kingdom of God. The parable also teaches that the the Church or the Kingdom cannot grow without the Spirit of God and that when the Church strays away from the teachings or commandments of God, the growth of the Kingdom suffers. The Kingdom and the Church grows when the faithful believers fully submit to the teachings and commandments of God and ignore the teachings or reasonings of man. As so many Churches today have been fooled by the false teachings of man, these false teachings have led to false doctrines that have led the Church astray. The Church and the Kingdom of God is only at full strength and can only reach its full potential when there is a commitment to the true teachings and commandments of God.
